Ordinance 12-1985 ORDINANCE NO. 12 -1985
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LONGWOOD, FLORIDA,
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER OF THE
CITY OF LONGWOOD, FLORIDA, CONCERNING ARTICLE III,
SECTION 3.01(d) TO CHANGE THE TERM OF CITY
COMMISSIONER OFFICE FROM THREE YEARS TO FOUR
YEARS; PROVIDING THAT SAID PROPOSED CHARTER
AMENDMENT BE SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT THE
NEXT GENERAL ELEC'T'ION HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER
6,2012; PROVIDING THAT IF APPROVED, SUCH AMENDMENT
SHALL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CITY CHARTER;
PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, SEVERABILITY,
CONFLICTS AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Section 166.031, Florida Statutes, provides for the adoption of an ordinance
submitting amendments to the City of Longwood's Charter to the electors of the City for
approval;
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Longwood, Florida, has met and
reviewed the City Charter; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission has noted that, pursuant to § 3.01(d) of the City
Charter, members of the City Commission are currently elected for three (3) year terms, which
terms ultimately require that some City Commission elections be held in odd - numbered years
when no countywide elections are scheduled; and
WHEREAS, the City has observed that voter turnout and participation in municipal
elections increase in years in which countywide general elections; and
WHEREAS, the City has noted that the financial expense to the City for municipal
elections held in conjunction with countywide elections is substantially less than the financial
expense to the City for stand -alone municipal elections; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission has determined that terms of office for an even
number of years will allow each regular City Commissioner election to take place in conjunction
with a regularly scheduled statewide general election; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Longwood, Florida, proposes the
following amendment to the Charter of the City of Longwood be submitted to the voters of the
City of Longwood at the next General Election on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF LONGWOOD, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
City of Longwood
Ordinance No. 12 -1985
Page 1 of 4
SECTION 1 . Amendment #1 . The following amendment to the Charter of the City of
Longwood is submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Longwood and upon approval by
the qualified electors, Section 3.01(d) of the City Charter shall be amended to read as follows:
Section 3.01. Composition, qualifications of members, commission districts, election,
term of office, oath and forfeiture.
(d) Election and term of office. City Commissioners shall be elected for a term of three
(3) four 4 years. Four (4) year terms for districts three (3) and five (5) shall
commence in 2012 following the election for such districts. Four (4) terms for
districts one (1), two (2), and four (4) shall commence in 2014 following the election
for such districts. City Commissioners presently on the City Commission shall hold
their offices for the term of office for which they were respectively elected until the
person elected for their respective successive term takes office. Beg-iflfling in 1993,
elections will be held for Commissioners from .., .".... (a), two t e e , »..... four
1 4•. of f or di 1-..:ets three (3) and fi (5) will be held i n 1994 No
eleetion will be he n 1 4-
-995; thereafter the same pattern will. .'-'.low upon expira.mon.
of er
Key: Delete, Bold & Strikethrough
Insert Bold & Underline
SECTION 2 . Amendment #1 Ballot Question The ballot title and summary of the
charter amendment referenced in Section 1 herein, followed by the words "yes" and "no" shall
be set forth as follows on the ballot at the regular election on November 6, 2012, for
consideration by the qualified electors of the City of Longwood, Florida:
PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT
QUESTION #1
CHARTER AMENDMENT CHANGING TERMS OF OFFICE FOR CITY
COMMISSIONERS FROM 3 YEARS TO 4 YEARS.
City of Longwood
Ordinance No. 12 -1985
Page 2 of 4
Shall the City Charter be amended to change the terms of office for City
Commissioners from 3 to 4 years to be effective commencing with City Commission
members elected to office in the 2012 election for districts 3 and 5, and with City
Commission members elected to office for districts 1, 2 and 4 in the 2014 regular
election, thereby causing City regular elections to coincide with countywide general
elections held in even - numbered years?
YES
NO
SECTION 3 . referendum. The forgoing proposed amendment to the Charter of the
City of Longwood above and its accompanying ballot question contained herein shall be
individually placed on the City ballot and submitted to the qualified voters of the City of
Longwood at the next General Election on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. The qualified voters
shall have an opportunity to vote on the proposed amendment to the Charter. Thereafter, the
Charter of the City of Longwood, Florida shall be amended pursuant to the proposed amendment
if such amendment receives "yes" or affirmative vote from the majority of the votes cast. The
City Clerk of the City of Longwood is hereby authorized and directed to advertise the
referendum election authorized herein in accordance with the applicable provisions of the City
Charter, City Code, Florida Statutes, Florida Administrative Code, and federal law. In the event
it becomes necessary to make modifications to the ballot question contained within Section 2
after adoption of this Ordinance, the City Commission may make such modification by
Resolution.
SECTION 4. Codification It is the intention of the -City Commission of the City of
Longwood that the Charter Amendment proposed in Section 'l of this Ordinance shall become
and be made a part of the Charter of the City of Longwood, Florida, if adopted by the qualified
electors of the City of Longwood. Articles, sections, and :subsections of the Charter may be
renumbered or relettered for editorial and codification purposes and such renumbering and
relettering shall not constitute nor be considered substantive changes to the charter amendment
as adopted.
SECTION 5 . Severability The provisions of this Ordinance are declared to be
separable and if any section, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance shall for any reason be
held -to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
sections, sentences, clauses, or phrases of this Ordinance but they shall remain in effect, it being
the legislative intent that this Ordinance shall stand notwithstanding the invalidity of any part.
SECTION 6 . Conflicts In the event of a conflict or conflicts between this Ordinance and
other ordinances, this Ordinance shall control to the extent such conflict exists.
City of Longwood
Ordinance No. 12 -1985
Page 3 of 4
SECTION 7 .Effective Date of this Ordinance This Ordinance shall become effective
immediately upon its passage and adoption.
SECTION 8. Effective Date of Proposed Charter Amendment. The proposed Charter
Amendment set forth herein shall take effect if and upon certification of an affirmative majority
vote of the qualified electors of the City of Longwood in favor of such at the November 6, 2012
referendum election.
FIRST READING: February 20, 2012
SECOND READING: March 5, 2012
PASSEL) AND ADOPTED THIS 4� DAY OF 06Mh , A.D., 2012.
CITY OF LONGWOOD, FLORIDA
,I D , Mayor
ATTEST:
Sarah M. Mirus, N M[C, MBA, City Clerk
Approved as to form and legality for the use and reliance of the City of Longwood,
Florida, only.
Dani . Langley, Ci &ney
City of Longwood
Ordinance No. 12 -1985
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